Source: NIDA
The opioid analgesic, OxyContin contains the main ingredient oxycodone. OxyContin is a legal drug, available only by prescription. It is a pain reliever, categorized as a Schedule II drug; this means it is highly addictive and to obtain it, one must obtain a prescription from a licensed physician. OxyContin most frequently exits in tablet form; these tablets are round, and are usually found in 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg, and 160mg dosages. However, you can find OxyContin in capsule or liquid form. Although OxyContin should only be used to alleviate pain, many end up developing an OxyContin addictionbecause of its addictive nature.
An addiction to OxyContin makes the user feels as though he is suffering, if he has to go without the drug; these are physically painful symptoms. Some symptoms include: insomnia, muscle and bone ache, sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, muscle twitching, plus other physical effects. When one becomes addicted to OxyContin, the propensity for stealing to obtain the drug is heightened.
If an individual is in severe pain and follows the directions (per the OxyContin prescription), or if she takes it to the point where her pain has been properly controlled, then she is not suffering from OxyContin addiction or the abuse of it. When the individual consumes more than is needed to control the pain or if she takes it just to get “high”, then she is abusing OxyContin.
OxyContin can be taken in a number of ways: crushed and ingested, snorted, or diluted in water and injected. Crushing or diluting the tablet causes the most potent rush; very much like the quick and powerful rush felt with heroin. Some of the symptoms of OxyContin addiction include:
-
Slow breathing
-
Reduced pupils
-
Confusion
-
Fatigue, nodding off, or passing out
-
Dizziness
-
Weakness
-
Loss of interest in almost everything
-
Cold, pasty skin
-
Nausea
-
Vomiting
-
Convulsions
Treating an individual addicted to OxyContin can be like treating someone addicted to heroin. They both carry extremely painful symptoms, which can include seizures and flu-like symptoms. Most physicians treating these patients often used medications to help alleviate their pain during the detoxification process.
Getting treatment for OxyContin addiction is not that difficult. The publicly funded SAMHSA offers a bevy of treatment facilities that are publicly funded as well; just visit their website and click on their facility locator. By visiting your local hospital or your family doctor, you can get the help you need to steer you in the right direction–getting clean.
OxyContin is quickly becoming one of the most abused drugs in the United States. Many teenagers are using it as a party drug and as a substitute for marijuana. To avoid becoming a statistic and to prevent OxyContin addiction, if your physician prescribes you with OxyContin, refrain from using it for non-medical reasons.
Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/